Mercedes OM603 FJ80

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I'm currently collecting all the parts to do a 617.952 from an 83 mercedes 300d coupled to a 700r4 into a split case in my 80. I know it will be a turd, but I am very into the vw tdi field and feel confident I can get it to at least stock 3fe power with minor upgrades. The merc guys are running 700r4s and the gearing is just right. The adapter plate with crank adapter, flex plate, mini starter, and hardware run 725. I have the engine with 125k on it and a 700r4 should be no problem and I can't wait to get rid of this cr@p 440f with the awful 50mph kick down. Seriously.........I wanna burn oil:)
 
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I'm working on adaptersto put the Om617 into the Fj62 as well as new bellhousings for the Om603/606 to A440 as well. The Om 617 shouldn't have any problems moving an Fj around and still be reliable.
Brian
 
Awesome. Do you think it will work with the 440? The617a likes to spin a little faster that 2200rpms on the highway. I think around 3k is optimal. I wish someone would sell just the adapter plate and crank adapter for the 700r4 swap. I don't really need another starter and flex plate.
 
I'm working on adaptersto put the Om617 into the Fj62 as well as new bellhousings for the Om603/606 to A440 as well. The Om 617 shouldn't have any problems moving an Fj around and still be reliable.
Brian

let me know when you get this done i'd be in line for one.
 
let me know when you get this done i'd be in line for one.

What engine 603 or 617? Will be starting the Om617 swap in 2weeks,still trying to get my foundry set up for casting new bellhousings for the 603 swaps. Been super swamped with orders and can hardly keep up and still work on the new products. Got my son and the couple I kidnapped from the store chained to work benches to help out;).
Brian
 
What engine 603 or 617? Will be starting the Om617 swap in 2weeks,still trying to get my foundry set up for casting new bellhousings for the 603 swaps. Been super swamped with orders and can hardly keep up and still work on the new products. Got my son and the couple I kidnapped from the store chained to work benches to help out;).
Brian

What trans are you working with? Are you bolting these up to the 440f? If so, do you think it will stay in boost at cruising speed? Mine cruises at around 2200 on the highway.... I'm fairly new to the 617, but I have a 300sd in the driveway and it starts getting into boost at around 2300rpms and it finally pulls well around 3k. Before 2300 rpms.... It has NO POWER. I can't see any reason this engine shouldn't pull around an 80 though with the right gearing. Loaded the 300sd is around the same weight as the 80. The 700r4 is also a bit high in the gearing, but it does have a good lockup. I wish the benz trans was a bit more stout and a divorced t-case could go behind it, but they aren't the best.

Let's keep this going. I think this is one the best Engines EVER made. I want to bio fuel one in a cruiser. Obviously I'm not the only one:)
 
The 4 spd looks appealing. I was checking that out. According to the gear ration website, (http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html) it puts the engine at the most perfect rpm possible at 68mph. Ideal. The h42 bolts into a 89-90 split case? right? So looking for a 60 for the pedal swap etc? At least there wouldn't be any t-case adapter needed.

I do not like the 50mph kickdown on the a440. I think it would be a deal breaker with the 617/603. Way too low rpms at highway speed for the weight it has to pull.
 
I am also very really interested in a project like this.

What about the a442f transmission found behind the 1fz? Can it be adjusted or electronically tuned what determines its shifting points? I Have not studied thoroughly the wiring diagrams but it seams there is not much in terms of communication between the transmission and the engine link to post with simple diagram.

om60x series engine has a "simullar" bolt pattern, (the starter is on the driver side). And all the om60x engines use a the same bolt pattern in terms of the block.

the image attached is the rear end of a om606, same as the om602 and om603, Unffortunetly I cant find a picture with similar detail of a 1fz or a a442f.

the other image is of the om617, which is interesting because it has a "intermediate plate" attached to the block. Not sure how much room there is on the driver side for a starter though. (which is why they fit nicely in jeeps (ax15) or w56 manual tranny)
DSC03709.webp
IntermediatePlate617 .webp
 
Yeah... I'm really torn with that right now. I know my 3fe has a horrible time with the 50mph lock up limit of the a440f, but it would be super simple to just use my tranny (which I just put in less than a year ago) and I would like to use the full time 4x4 transfer case. I have been seriously kicking around an h42 swap.

As for the 700, I don't mind the cross member building... the speedo works from the t-case, there's only one wire for a 700r4, and drive shafts are a must on almost any transmission swap. I'm nervous about the low cruising rpms. It would be around 2100 at 65-70mph. I would love to get 2800 at cruising speeds.
And the biggest problem, 1500 bucks in adapters.

I have and old friend that has over twenty 300d, sd, and tds. No joke. I have almost unlimited supplies of engine parts and info. He thinks (and a few drives with a VERY loaded trailer confirms) a 617 will do fine in the 80. The Mercedes transmission is a 4-3-2-1 gear ratio. The final drive in a 300d is nearly identical to an 80 with lower gears and bigger tires. I also experience near 30mpg in a 3700 lb car. My cruiser as bone stock and weighs in at around 4600#. for example, If I would do a 700r4 with a 617a I lose aprox. 300lbs taking me to 4300. 600 lbs is the dif. There are a lot of guys running worn out 3fe 80s that weigh 6000lbs with all the armor they have on them. If I compare that, I'll have a MUCH better power to weight ratio with even a stock om617 than they do and I can run veggie oil and bio.

I was originally aiming for a 4bt, but this is so expensive, I can't justify it.
The 6.2 isn't available for me and I don't want a v8. If I did, I'd be vortec swapping this sucker, hands down. I want something easy to work on and lots of extra engine bay. I have done multiple engine swaps with small cars and big engines and I just don't want that with this one. When i was a kid I saw a bug with a twin cyl Onan diesel motor in it and these 2 old ladies were driving it. They said, "It's slow, but no one else has one". I loved that.

This motor moves around plenty of big mercedes suvs, so I can't believe I won't push the cuiser.

Anyway... I know I'm crazy... My wife tells me daily.
 
You did bring up some good points, specifically the 1500 adapter...

I completely agree with you on the matter on power as to the om617, not to mention reliability, and over all well engineered motor. (I personally have one standing on a engine stand and give myself a "facepalm" trying to figure out why do we keep on trying to reinvent the wheel in terms of engine design). ... but, I think I will save it for a different project (as none of my friends have a Mercedes collection :S).

From my understanding(very limited) differ by obviously one being completely hydraulic, the other electronic controlled valve body. and also the housing. not sure about crosmemeber mounting

Consider the two service manuals a-442f (pg at-13)and a-440f (pg 14)

Which brings mean that "if theoretically" one was able to do something about this dreaded kick down, and if there was ever a bellhousing made to fit mate to the a44x transmission and the om60x series ... of think of the possibilities. No worries about drive shafts, cross-members, transmission not fitting in tunnel and clearances. @Diesel60 hurry up and get that foundry.

Since I missed out on the video posting session I thought I might share this absolutely ridiculous one... but oddly, I just cant turn away :o

... just a few mods ...


As for the crazy, can you imagine a life without that particular condition?


Yeah... I'm really torn with that right now. I know my 3fe has a horrible time with the 50mph lock up limit of the a440f, but it would be super simple to just use my tranny (which I just put in less than a year ago) and I would like to use the full time 4x4 transfer case. I have been seriously kicking around an h42 swap.

As for the 700, I don't mind the cross member building... the speedo works from the t-case, there's only one wire for a 700r4, and drive shafts are a must on almost any transmission swap. I'm nervous about the low cruising rpms. It would be around 2100 at 65-70mph. I would love to get 2800 at cruising speeds.
And the biggest problem, 1500 bucks in adapters.

I have and old friend that has over twenty 300d, sd, and tds. No joke. I have almost unlimited supplies of engine parts and info. He thinks (and a few drives with a VERY loaded trailer confirms) a 617 will do fine in the 80. The Mercedes transmission is a 4-3-2-1 gear ratio. The final drive in a 300d is nearly identical to an 80 with lower gears and bigger tires. I also experience near 30mpg in a 3700 lb car. My cruiser as bone stock and weighs in at around 4600#. for example, If I would do a 700r4 with a 617a I lose aprox. 300lbs taking me to 4300. 600 lbs is the dif. There are a lot of guys running worn out 3fe 80s that weigh 6000lbs with all the armor they have on them. If I compare that, I'll have a MUCH better power to weight ratio with even a stock om617 than they do and I can run veggie oil and bio.

I was originally aiming for a 4bt, but this is so expensive, I can't justify it.
The 6.2 isn't available for me and I don't want a v8. If I did, I'd be vortec swapping this sucker, hands down. I want something easy to work on and lots of extra engine bay. I have done multiple engine swaps with small cars and big engines and I just don't want that with this one. When i was a kid I saw a bug with a twin cyl Onan diesel motor in it and these 2 old ladies were driving it. They said, "It's slow, but no one else has one". I loved that.

This motor moves around plenty of big mercedes suvs, so I can't believe I won't push the cuiser.

Anyway... I know I'm crazy... My wife tells me daily.
 
I got my the injection pump on my 4runner's OM617 tuned better and it moves that thing around great on 35's with 5.38 gears. My 4runner is at least 5000 lbs right now. I have a lot of torque off idle and mid range now. I was going to install a gt2256v turbo, but I might be throwing this engine in the trash, it started knocking and I haven't figured out what is causing it and why. This is the second one I have installed in my 4runner.

If you have a 603 or 606, I say go that route. You have to modify a 617 a lot to get decent performance out of it in a heavy vehicle.

As for fuel mileage, I can go pretty far on a 3/4 tank that's leaking. Just as far as my other 4runner on 37's with a full tank.
 
I've enjoyed my om617 powered fj40 for slightly over a year.
Did Rubithon last year, as well as the fj45 run in Deer Valley.

All was good, until I brought her to a quick oil change last week.
They installed the wrong oil-filters, which killed my diesel shortly after :crybaby:

Currently documenting everything, and will be filing a claim w/the shop.

Regardless of the outcome, I will be picking up another om617.

4.56 w/35s and a sm465 trans = 70mph @3100
Which feels sooooo much better then when I was running a 2F

The few times I reviewed Fuel economy, hwy was around 20mpg...less around town.
You will definitely be spending less time at the gas station ;p


boring video of my om617 equipped fj40 around town... - YouTube


the 465 is not a turbo sweet-spot friendly trans, because of the large jump from 3rd to 4th, I would recommend going with a nv4500.


build thread on pirate:
mr manny benzo 40 - Pirate4x4.Com
 
Have any of you tried mating a 617 to a 5-speed HJ or is that too heavy?
 
I'm getting more interested in the a440f to OM617 adapter. If you have a basic kit with the adapter plate and crank adapter for a fair price like your others listed on your site, I'm a buyer if i can get a few loose end figured out. Is that adapter one you are def. making?
 
I'm getting more interested in the a440f to OM617 adapter. If you have a basic kit with the adapter plate and crank adapter for a fair price like your others listed on your site, I'm a buyer if i can get a few loose end figured out. Is that adapter one you are def. making?

I was in the shop farting around on the 617/440f adapter this weekend,so yes it will definatly make it to production. And yes it will be priced in the neighborhood as my other kits as well. The basic kit should be available in 3 to 4 weeks. Keep checking my site for updates. Anybody interested in a thread here on the Om617-Fj62 swap/build?
Brian.
 
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